Trousers stretcher and creaser.



A. H. BARBER.

TROUSERS STRETOHER AND GRBASBB. APPLICATION 11.31) JUNE 5, 1911.

1,031,511. v Patentgd July 2, 1912.

5 1 E 5 A4 '3 2 g a I l i co i 5 5 a I i I i COLUMBIA PLANonRAPl-l 120.,WASHINGTON, D. C.

ALPHA H. BARBER,

ATNT OFFICE.

OF 'LEIPSIC, OHIO.

TROUSERS STRETCHER AND CREASER.

Application filed June 5, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHA H. BARBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Leipsic, in the county of Putnam and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Stretchers andCreasers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in trousers stretchers andcreasers.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed, cheapand efficient device of this character which when applied will hold thetrousers legs yieldably in flat stretched position and form creases inthe front and rear in the usual places.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and it will be understood that changes in the specificstructure shown and described may be made within the scope of theinvention as claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of atrousers stretcher and creaser constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 22of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the blanks from whichthe side members are constructed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one ofthe springs detached.

In the embodiment illustrated two laterally spaced strips 1 and 2 areshown preferably composed of sheet metal such as aluminum, tin or sheetiron. These strips are formed by folding metal plates of about three orfour inches in width longitudinally throughout their length, the foldbeing preferably formed at a point at one side of a median line to causeone edge of said plate to project beyond the other .to form a thin sharpcreasing edge 3. These strips 1 and 2 are provided along the foldthereof with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures as 4 throughwhich the ends of springs as 5 are designed to be inserted. Thesesprings 5, any desired number of which may be employed, are preferablymade M-shaped and the arms or legs 6 and 7 thereof are inserted throughregistering apertures as 4 in the two strips 1 and 2 and extend parallelwith the folded edges of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1912.

Serial No. 631,199.

said strips, said edges being arranged face to face as shown in Figs. 1and 2. The free ends of these arms 6 and 7 are bent outwardly at rightangles and flattened as shown at 7 and 8 to prevent any possibility ofthe strips turning on the springs and to enable said ends to fit neatlybetween the side members of the strips. These flattened ends are securedto the strips preferably by rivets as 8 which are arranged at the angleof said ends whereby the springs are firmly secured in operativeposit-ion. These arms 6 and 7 are inserted within the strips until thebends at the inner ends thereof engage the walls of the apertures 4,said bends serving as stops to limit the extent of insertion of thesprings within the strips. The side members of the strips formed by thefolds therein are preferably riveted together at intervals throughouttheir lengths. The intermediate bend 9 of said springs provides thenecessary resiliency for normally forcing said strips 1 and 2 apart tocause them to engage the trousers leg at diametrically opposite pointswhereby said leg is held in flattened extended position and the sharpedges 3 of said strips being forcibly held against the inner faces ofthe leg at these points form the desired creases therein.

The opposite endsof the strips 1 and 2 are preferably connected by meansof rods 10 and 11 which are movably but permanently connected to onestrip and detachably connected with the other strip. The lower end ofone of the strips is preferably flared slightly to adapt it to thespring which occurs at the lower end of the trousers leg.

It isobvious that the connecting rods 10 and 11 may be disconnected fromone of the strips when it is desired to apply the stretcher of greateror less width, the expansibility of the springs adapting the device foruse with legs of varying widths. The rods 10 and 11 are intendedprincipally to hold the strips in proper relation when the device is notin use to prevent the springs from permanently expanding and thus losingtheir resiliency. I claim as my invention a A trousers stretcher andcreaser comprising metal strips folded longitudinally, w1th the edgesformed by the folds thereof facing each other and one of the free edgesof each ,strip projecting beyond the other free edge to form a creaser,lVl-shaped springs d sposed between said strips with the opposlte armsof each spring closely confined in the In testimony whereof I havehereunto folds of the opposed strips and having their set my hand inpresence of two subscribing 10 terminals bent outwardly at right anglesWitnesses.

and flattened to conform to the inner bind- ALPHA H BARBER 1 ing Wallsof the strips, and fastening means extending transversely through saidstrips Witnesses: at the bend of the terminals of said springs ANDREW J.HOFFMAN, and in contact With the arm of the springs. Rosoon SPENCER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G.

